Shirt collar support



W. R; KOHL ET AL March 4, 1952 SHIRT COLLAR SUPPORT 2 SHEETS-SHEET FiledAug. 15, 1947 15 Wzllaam i k 05i, warden Z. [U6/307Z,

March 1952 w. R. KOHL ET AL SHIRT COLLAR SUPPORT 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 FiledAug. 15, 1947 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIRTCOLLAR SUPPORT William R. Kohl, Glenview, and Arden L. Iverson, Chicago,Ill., assignors to Para-Lux Products Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,304

11 Claims. 1 v This invention relates to a collar or neckband support orprotector which is adapted for use with a new or freshly launderedcollar-attached shirt to prevent crumpling, crushing or wrinkling of thesame.

It is an object of the invention to provide a very simple one-pieceflexible paperboard collar support which is constructed with improvedrigidifying and bracing portions whereby it is adapted to sustain asubstantial vertical crushing load when operatively positioned in thecollar opening of a collar-attached shirt.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a protective support for acollar which is fabricated from a relatively small blank of paperboardstock by slitting and creasing the same to provide integrally relatedmembers having a truss-like supporting action when properly positionedadjacent the neckband of the shirt and having an effective toggle-likeaction automatically urging the sup port into snug engagement againstportions of the inside of the collar band.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a collar supportconsisting of a paperboard or cardboard device having laterally ex--tending wing-like members which are adapted to be positioned between thecollar and the neckband and an integral two-part panel which is foldedpartially upon itself and then flexed into engaging position within thecollar opening to provide a protecting and stiiTening means havingportions extending above the top of the collar, which portions form abuffer of exceptional strength for protecting the collar againstcrushing when the shirts are piled on top of each other.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thedescription of the several forms of the invention which are shown by wayof illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank which has been cut and creased toprovide when set up a shirt collar support in accordance with thepreferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a mans collar-attached shirt with the collarsupport partially applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the collar supportin position on the shirt just prior to the final folding and applyingoperation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with dotted lines showinga portion of the support in a position which is intermediate theposition shown in Fig. 3 and the final position;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 7 is a plan viewsimilar to Fig. 5 illustrating a slightly modified form of the support;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank which has been cut and creased toprovide a further modified form of the shirt collar support;

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating thesupport of Fig. 8 in partiallyinserted position on the shirt collar; and

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line Ill-49 of Fig. 9 with the fullyinserted position of the support indicated in dotted lines.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the shirt collar support, a cardboard sheet of suitablegrade and stiffness is cut and provided with crease lines to form ablank II] which is adapted to be applied to the shirt and simultaneouslyfolded into operative position thereon.

The blank I 0 includes a portion l I forming upwardly and outwardlycurved laterally extending or projecting arms or wings l2. A collarpoint protector tab I3 is integrally attached to the wing formingportion ll intermediate the ends of and at the lower side thereof. Theprotector tab I3 is adapted to hinge along the line 14 which ispreferably a crease or score line. A. two-part panel portion 15 isintegrally connected intermediate the ends of the wing forming portion ll on the side opposite the protector tab I3 and is adapted to hingealong the line l6 which is preferably a crease or score line.

The panel I5 is divided into an upwardly curved inner portion 11 and anouter portion l8 which are foldable upon themselves about the line H!along which the panel is preferably slitted or otherwise weakened sothat the portions I! and It will readily fold about the same. The lineI9 is irregular, having short outer horizontal end portions 20, inwardlyand downwardly sloping intermediate portions 2! and a short horizontalcenter portion 22 which results in a curving or bowing of the panel l5when the portions I? and 18 are folded toward each other about the lineIS. The panel portion I1 is separated from the wing forming portion H byirregular curved cutting lines 23 which terminate in cut out portions 24forming on the lower edge of portion ll downwardly projecting points ortabs 25 adjacent the center of the support. The panel portion 18 isprovided with reduced projecting end f mations 2B.

The protector is positioned on the collar-attached shirt 21 (Fig. 2) byfirst inserting the arms I 2 between the collar flaps 28 and theneckband 29 of the shirt. The collar point protector tab 13 is hinged orbowed outwardly about the line l4 sufiiciently to position the lateralends of the tab [3 outside of the points of the collar flaps 28. In thisposition the panel members l1 and I8 extend in a generally upwarddirection in the plane of the enter portion of the wing forming memberII. The points or tabs are then positioned inside the neckband bycurving or flexing the panel members I! and 18 about their verticalcenter and moving the tabs 25 into position (Fig. 3). The support isfully inserted by moving the top edge of the panel portion 18 backwardlyin bending relation about the line is (Fig. 4) The ends of the panelmembers I! and 18 are automatically pulled backwardly towards each otheras the top edge 3!! of the panel member I8 pivots rearwardly anddownwardly about the irregular fold line while the panel members I1 andI8 assume a bowed or flexed condition. As the panel members H and i8 arethus folded partially upon themselves the top edge 39 of the panelmember I8 is positioned in engagement with the back of the shirt 2! atthe bottom of the neckband line.

The forward portion of the panel member l8, along the line l9, extendsin a generally vertical direction and projects above the front portionof the collar of the shirt 2'. The central portions of the arm formingmember ll and the panel members I! and It cooperate to form a truss orbridge-like rigidifying and strengthening 'means for the front of thecollar and act as a buffer when shirts provided with the supports arepiled on each other.

The panel members I! and I 8 are positioned in the collar opening by atoggle-like action as the panel portion [8 is folded backvvardly anddownwardly about the line I 9, their ends automatically moving inwardlyand downwardly into position. The collar point protecting tab 13 ispositioned with its ends on the outside of the collar flaps 28 toprotect-the points of the flaps 28 from injury or wrinkling and toassist in holding the protector snugly in position. The surface of thecollar point protector tab l3 may be provided with appropriateadvertising matter. The ends 26 of the panel members I! and it are urgedoutwardly against the back of the shirt by the resiliency of thematerial and help to retain the support in proper position on the shirt.

A slightly modified form of the collar support is illustrated in Fig.'7. In this form the support 3! includes a shirt encircling band 32which is substituted for the collar point protector [3 of the preferredform, The band 32 is connected at 33 to the support 3! in the samemanner as the collar point protector tab IS. The support 3| is appliedto the shirt 34 in the same manner as the preferred form and the shirtencircling band 32 is folded completely around the shirt 34 with itsends secured in the back in any desired manner. The points of the collarflaps 35 are positioned beneath the band 32 where they are protectedfrom injury or wrinkling.

A further modified form of protector is shown in Figs. 8 to 10. Theblank All is cut and creased to provide a portion 4| having relativelyshort laterally extending neckband engaging arms 42. A collar pointprotector tab 43 is integrally joined to the lower side of the armforming portion 4| and is adapted to bend or bow along the connectingline 44. A two-part panel is integrally connected to the upper side ofthe portion, 4]; and

is adapted to bend or bow along the connecting line 46. Small laterallyextending tab members 41 are cut from the material of the arm formingportion 4| and the panel 45 adjacent the connecting line 46. The panel45 is divided into two portions 48 and 49 by an irregular fold line 58which may be slitted or otherwise weakened to insure folding of thepanel portions 48 and 49 therealong. The panel portion 48 is relativelynarrow and short while the panel portion 49 is substantially wider andlonger, the ends 5! of the latter extending laterally a substantialdistance and having sloping serrated edges.

The blank 4!] is applied to the shirt 52 (Figs. 9 and 10) by insertingthe laterally extending arms 42 beneath the flaps 53 of the collar 54with the laterally extending ends of the collar point protector tab 43positioned outside the points of the collar flaps 53. The panel members48 and 49 are then flexed or curved inwardly or rear wardly to bring thepanel member 48 inside the collar opening and into contact with theforward portion of the neckband 55 The panel member 49 is then in agenerall upwardly and rearwardly sloping curved or bowed condition withits ends extending out over the sides of the collar.- The panel member49 is then grasped at the middle and-moved rearwardly and downwar'dllto-fold about the line 50 and at the same time bring the serrated endsdown into position alongthe inside of the neckband and the top edge 56of the support into engagement with the back 51 of the shirt 52 (Fig.10). The center portions of the panel 48, the arm forming por tion 4|and the collar point protector tab 43 extend in the same general plane(Fig. 10) when the support is fullyinserted. The short tabs 41 projectoutwardly over the outside of the collar at the top edges of the collarflaps 53. The ends of the panel member 43 engage the neckband and areheld in position in stiffening relation by the curved or flexed panel49. The forward portion of the panel member 4 9 extends downwardly inapproximately a vertical position and forms with the integral connectingportions of the protector members 48, 48 and :33 a triangular bridgelike support which extends above the top of the front portion of theshirt collar 55 and provides a buffer of exceptional strength thatprotects the collar from crushing when other shirts are piled upon it. t

While particular details of construction and specific materials arereferred to in describing the prefered form of the invention, it will beunderstood that other details of construction and other materials may beresorted to within the spirit of the invention.

We claim: 1. A collar protecting device comprising afiexible sheet-likebody member having a portion providing laterally projecting neckbandengaging wings adapted to be flexed and positioned between the collarand the neckband of a shirt, and an integral two-part supporting andlocking panel integrally connected to said wing for'ming portionintermediate the ends of said Wings, said two-part panel being providedwith hinge means connecting the parts thereof at points which arerelatively widely spaced along the length of the panel, and beingadapted to be folded upon it} self and positioned in toggle-like lockingengagement in the forward curved portion of the collar opening, saidpanel whenso positioned including a part immediately adjoining the inte-Zw s l e e ee ee Qt sai panel and wins formin portion which forwardlyengages the rear surface of the forward collar portionalong asubstantiallength theeof and an elongatedcollar engaging part disposedrearwardly of said first named part and said forward collar portion.

2. Acollarprotecting device comprisinga body member of flexiblesheet-like material having laterally extending neckband engaging armsadapted to be positioned between the collar and the neckband of theshirt, a collar point protector tab integrally connected to one side ofthe arm members intermediate their ends, and a foldable panel integrallyconnected to the opposite side of the neckband engaging arms, said panelhaving a weakened irregular line intermediate its side edges, which lineincludes hinge portions spaced substantially from one another a withreference to the length of the line, and. be-

ing foldable upon itself about said hinge portions to flex into curvedrelation for positioning in toggle-like, spring thrust exertingengagement with the inside of the neckband at the forward portion of thecollar opening, said panel when so positioned including a partimmediately adjoining the integral connection of said panel and wingforming portion which forwardly engages the rear surface of the forwardcollar portion along a substantial length thereof and an elongatedcollar engaging part disposed rearwardly of said first named part andsaid forward collar portion.

3. A collar protecting device comprising a body member of flexible sheetmaterial having integral laterally extending curved neckband engagingarms of substantial length adapted to be positioned between the collarand neckband of a shirt, and a foldable panel integrally joined to saidarms intermediate their length, said panel being foldable upon itselfalong an irregular longitudinally curved line of length approximatingthat of the panel and being insertable within the collar opening toprovide a curved truss-like, toggle action buffer member exerting springthrust on the inside of said neckband and having its folded edgeextending above the top edge of the collar, said panel when sopositioned including a part immediately adjoining the integralconnection of said panel and wing forming portion which forwardlyengages the rear surface of the forward collar portion along asubstantial length thereof and an elongated collar engaging partdisposed rearwardly of said first named part and said forward collarportion.

4. A collar protecting device comprising a body member of flexiblesheet-like material having laterally extending wings adapted to bepositioned between the collar and the neckband of the shirt, a collarpoint protector tab connected to one side of the wings intermediatetheir ends,

. and a foldable panel connected to the opposite side of the wings, saidpanel having an irregular fold line intermediate its side edges, whichline includes hinge portions spaced substantially from one another withreference to the length of the line, and being foldable upon itselfabout said hinge portions into curved relation for positioning intoggle-like, spring thrust exerting engagement with the inside of theneckband at the forward portion of the collar opening, said panel whenso positioned including a part immediately adjoining the integralconnection of said panel and wing forming portion which forwardlyengages the rear surface of the forward collar portion along asubstantial length thereof and an elongated collar engaging partdisposed rear- 6 wardly of said first named part andsaid forwardcollarportion.

5. A collar protectingdevicecomprising-a body member of flexible sheetmaterial having laterally extending curved neckband engaging arms ofsubstantial length adapted to be positioned between the collar andneckband of a shirt, and a foldable panel joined 'tosaid armsintermediate their length, said panel being foldable upon an irregularline of length of the order of the length of the panel and beinginsertable within the collar opening to provide a truss-like, toggleaction buffer portion of generally triangular section exerting springthrust on the inside of said neckband and having the folded top edgethereof extending above the top edge of the collar, said panel when sopositioned including a part immediately adjoining the integralconnection of said panel and wing forming portion which forwardlyengages the rear surface of the forward collar portion along asubstantial length thereof and an elongated collar engaging partdisposed rearwardly of said first named part and said forward collarportion.

6. A collar protecting device comprising a flexible sheet-like bodymember having a portion providing laterally projecting neckband engagingwings adapted to be flexed and positioned between the collar and theneckband of a shirt, a collar tab protecting member integrally joined toone side of said wing forming port-ion intermediate the ends thereof,and a two-part supporting and locking panel joined to said wing formingportion at the opposite side thereof, said two-part panel being providedwith hinge means connecting the parts thereof at points which arerelatively widely spaced along the length of the panel, and beingadapted to be folded upon itself and positioned in toggle-like lockingengagement in-the forward curved portion of the collar opening, saidpanel when so positioned including a part immediately adjoining theintegral connection of said panel and win forming portion whichforwardly engages the rear surface of the forward collar portion along asubstantial length thereof and an elongated collar engaging partdisposed rearwardly of said first named part and said forward collarportion.

'7. A collar protecting device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said panelpart are of approximately the same length and are separated by a bentfold line.

8. A collar protecting device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said collarprotecting tab member comprises a shirt encircling band member.

9. A collar protecting device as claimed in claim 6 wherein one of saidpanel parts is relatively short and narrow and the other part is longerand wider, said parts being separated by a bent fold line.

10. A collar protecting device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said otherpanel part is provided with serrated end edges.

11. A collar protecting device comprising a portion engageable between acollar and shirt neckband and a neckband engaging portion integrallyconnected to said portion, said neckband engaging portion including twoflexible, relatively elongated panels hingedly related at relativelywidely spaced parts along their respective lengths and rearwardly of theintegral connection of said portions, said device being folded uponitself and positioned in toggle-like locking engagement within theneckband of a shirt with the panel adjacent said integral connection en-8 gaging the inside'of the shirt neckband and the free edge of the panelremote from said connec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion engaging the rear ofthe shirt. 7 Number Name Date y I 1,814,653 Wilson July 14, 1931 WIILIAMKOHL- 5 1,876,814 Wilson Sept. 13, 1932 ARDEN E 2,149,192 Steele Feb.28, 1939 2,158,379 Peyton May 16, 1939 REFERENCES CITED 2,289,073 Rosset a1 July '7, 1942 The following references are of record in the2,371,841 Paulsen Mar. 20, 1945 file of this patent: 10 v

